dcagenda.com - vol. 2, issue 10 - march 5, 2010

8/14/2019 dcagenda.com - vol. 2, issue 10 - march 5, 2010

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coping withreal-life tragedy

Gay actor Thom Bierdzon his mother's murder

and his new rolewith Out for Work.

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socialagendaThe Phase celebrated40 years last weekend.For video of the party,visit dcagenda.com.

PAGE 32

nationalagendaAn interview withRep. Patrick Murphy,straight veteran fightingfor 'Don't Ask' repeal.

PAGE 9

dcagendathe lgbtq communitys news source

dcagenda.com vol. 2, issue 10 march 5, 2010

Couples celebrateas same-sexmarriage lawtakes effectHundreds descend oncourthouse for historiccelebration. Page 4Area couple leads in Crate &Barrel wedding contest. Page 6Will Maryland be next downthe aisle? Page 6Boycott threat as opponentsrent E Street Cinema. Page 8Patchwork of laws reveals needfor DOMA repeal. Page 16Emotions run high as decades-long fight ends. Page 16Cover photo by Joe Tresh

D.C.

SAYS'I DO'


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march 5, 2010 dcagenda.com 3


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More than 100 seekmarriage license

in first hours

By JOSHUA LYNSEN andLOU CHIBBARO [email protected]

Washington, D.C., became thenations sixth jurisdiction to allow same-sex marriage Wednesday when itopened its marriage license applicationprocess to gay and lesbian couples.

More than one dozen couples linedup outside the D.C. Superior Courtbuilding some arriving even beforesunrise to become the first same-sex pairs to obtain their applications towed. Couples alternately smiled andwept as emotion swept the crowd.

Love has won out over fear, saidRev. Dennis Wiley, co-pastor atCovenant Baptist Church and co-chair ofDC Clergy United for Marriage Equality.Equality has won out over prejudice.Faith has won out over despair.

Because of a mandatory waitingperiod, couples that applied for mar-riage licenses Wednesday wont be

able to marry until March 9.But the Human Rights Campaign,

National Gay & Lesbian Task Forceand other advocacy groups that havelong sought same-sex marriagerights in the nations capital applaud-ed Wednesdays enactment of theReligious Freedom & Civil MarriageEquality Act of 2009.

This law is an important steptoward equal dignity, equal respect andequal rights for all residents of ournations capital, said Joe Solmonese,


districtagenda

DC Agenda photos by Michael Key

Jubilant gay, lesbian couples begin to wed in D.C.

Continues on page 20


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Gansler opinion

not enough to keep

Silver Spring pair from

selling house

By LOU CHIBBARO [email protected]

Kareem Murphy and DeWayneDavis of Silver Spring, Md., have

been together for nearly 19 years.The two gay men, who are active

members of D.C.s MetropolitanCommunity Church, said they havebeen grappling for several years overwhether to remain in Maryland ormove back to the District, where theylived in the 1990s.

Moving back to D.C. was attrac-tive, but when the marriage issuetook off it made the choice betweenMaryland and D.C. very clear inD.C.s favor, said Murphy, a lobbyistwith a firm that represents localmunicipal governments.

It kind of sealed the deal, he said,referring to the D.C. same-sex mar-riage law that took effect Wednesday.

The couple has placed their SilverSpring house up for sale and is activelylooking for a new home in the District.

Murphy and Davis, both 38 and

graduates of Howard University,belong to a demographic group thatgay activists and city officials saythey will closely monitor over the nextyear or two to measure the econom-ic impact of same-sex marriage inthe nations capital.

An analysis prepared by the staff ofD.C.s chief financial officer estimatesthat the city would see a multi-milliondollar increase in tax and business rev-enue during the first few years of legal-ized gay marriage. The tax and busi-ness revenue would be generated by asurge in weddings for same-sex cou-ples from other states as well as from

the District and nearby suburbs.Studies conducted in other states

that have legalized same-sex mar-riage have also found that gay maleand lesbian couples have moved intothose states for the sole purpose ofbeing able to marry.

Davis, a former congressionalstaffer and lobbyist, recently left therealm of politics to enter D.C.sWesley Theological Seminary tobecome a minister. He said he andMurphy are rearranging their lives tomove into the District not because ofeconomic issues but because mar-riage is an important component of

their faith-based beliefs.It has been made that much

more important for us because wereally want to be married, Davissaid. Weve called ourselves marriedand weve debated many timesabout going places to get married.But weve always said we didnt wantto move out of this area to marry.

If we were going to marry, wewanted to be here, where we are.And so that was a deliberate decisionwe made. It was so important to us

that this was going to happen in D.C.Murphy and Davis decision to

move from Maryland to the Districtcomes at a time when both jurisdic-tions have been rocked by ongoingstruggles between same-sex mar-riage supporters and opponents.

In D.C., an ongoing campaign byBishop Harry Jackson, a minister fromBeltsville, Md., to overturn the cityssame-sex marriage law through pro-posed ballot measures and court injunc-tions appears to have been halted forthe time being. The U.S. Supreme Courton Tuesday denied Jacksons requestfor a stay to prevent the marriage lawfrom taking effect March 3.

In Maryland, a long-awaited legalopinion by state Attorney GeneralDouglas Gansler saying out-of-statesame-sex marriages appear to havefull legal standing under Maryland

law has drawn the ire of conservativemembers of the state legislature.

Officials with Equality Marylandhave hailed Ganslers Feb. 24 opin-ion as an important breakthrough inefforts to bring about same-sex mar-riage equality in the state. ButEquality Maryland Executive DirectorMorgan Meneses-Sheets acknowl-edged that the Gansler opinion hasstirred up anti-gay groups and law-makers who are mobilizing to block asame-sex marriage equality bill that

activists hope to persuade the legis-lature to pass in 2011.

Meanwhile, Equality Marylandand other LGBT groups are studyingthe Gansler opinion and theresponse by Maryland Gov. MartinOMalley to determine what, if any,marital rights and benefits same-sexcouples in Maryland can realize intheir home state if they marry in other

jurisdictions, including D.C.Gansler has said his opinion was

based on a careful legal analysis show-ing that most lawful marriages fromother states including same-sexmarriages are recognized underMaryland law. But he noted that thestates high court would have to makethe final decision on same-sex mar-riage recognition if opponents chal-lenge state agencies that provide mari-tal rights and benefits to gay couples.

DeWayne Davis (left) and Kareem Murphy of Silver Spring, Md., are selling theirhome and moving to D.C. to enjoy the benefits of marriage.

DC Agenda photo by Michael Key

Local couple overcomes

adversity, enters Crate &

Barrel wedding contest

By JOEY DiGUGLIELMO

It began as little more than a lark,but a Washington gay couple thatentered a Crate & Barrel weddingcontest have been shocked to findfriends and allies catapulting themnear the top of a list of 200 coupleshoping to win a $100,000 company-

sponsored wedding.Jonathan Howard, whos 29 and

just 11 days younger than his part-ner, Gregory Jones, discovered thecontest in a Crate & Barrel e-mail.They moved to D.C. together in2008 and got engaged in Octoberwhen Howard popped the question.Theyre planning to take advantageof the Districts new same-sex mar-riage law, which went into effect thisweek, but are hoping to win the$100,000 wedding.

Howard and Jones were in secondplace at press time with 5,906 votes

after previously leading. A Chicagopolice officer who was paralyzed in theline of duty, Densey Cole, is in firstplace with Mary Cole with 10,677votes, but they may be disqualified theyre already married, having wed inthe hospital when he awoke from acoma following the May 2009 acci-dent. Theyre hoping for an ocean-sideceremony to renew their vows. Therules state couples entering the con-test must be engaged.

Howard says it would be amazingif they win.

It would be great for us, but morethan that for the community to reallysay, Hey, were a normal couple andwere getting married and it doesntmatter if its two men, Howard says.This company is supporting us and itsa great story, its a great step for mar-riage equality but in a completely dif-ferent venue, not political at all. I wouldbe shocked and amazed and over-whelmed and overjoyed and it wouldbe just great for everybody involved.

So how did these two average Joes

convince nearly 6,000 people to vote forthem? A lot of it stems from a tragedythey only hinted at in their 100-wordonline bio. Howard made a lot of friendsand contacts in the gay community fol-lowing an August 2008 hate crimeattack. He and three friends were inBoston, where he went to college andlived at the time, when it happened.

We were walking home and agroup of four guys pulled up to us ina car, Howard says. I turned aroundto see what the commotion was andthe last thing I remember is hearing,Die, faggot, die, as they stomped my

head into the pavement.Howard says hes lucky he wasntseriously hurt in the attack. His attacker,Fabio Brandao, eventually pleadedguilty but received a two-year suspend-ed sentence that let him get by withoutany jail time, an outrage, Howard says.

He met hundreds of gay activistsand friends after the attack and wasfriends with many of them onFacebook. When they heard he andJones were soliciting votes, they ral-

lied in support. The Gay & LesbianAlliance Against Defamation wroteabout the couple, spurring more votesand Jones brothers fiance inChicago, Katie Lindner, went on amini-crusade of sorts helping themget the word out. Shes working on agraduate degree in Chicago on newmedia and says the Facebook phe-nomenon is fascinating to observe.

People kind of think of [Facebook]as this thing that doesnt seem impor-tant, that wastes your time and fillsyour day, but it gives me chills to seehow much support theres been for

them, Lindner says. Its bigger thanany one individual could achieve.

I think people see our story as anightmare with a fairy tale ending,Jones says. We went through thishorrible thing together and it madeus better, stronger people andbrought us closer to each other.

Though the votes are important, itwill ultimately be up to a panel of

judges to decide who wins. Severalprizewinners will be selected fromamong the top 50 vote getters byCrate & Barrel employees.

Is it realistic to hope the company

might select a gay couple for the$100,000 grand prize? Vickie Lang,manager of public relations and com-munity affairs for Crate & Barrel, saysits certainly possible and that thegay-friendly company is open to it.

Ultimately our role is to be a resourceto any couple celebrating a wedding, acommitment ceremony or any of that,Lang says. As part of that, were cele-brating inclusiveness and were excitedabout that. Were looking for couples

who really reflect the Crate & Barrellifestyle, whether theyre same-sex cou-ples or heterosexual couples.

And just what is the lifestyle?

Lang described it as, Timeless, clas-sic, high quality, clean, vibrant andcomfortable things for a warm,approachable lifestyle.

Theres been an ugly side to thecontest, though. Anonymous Chicagoblogger Detective Shaved Longcock,who knows and supports the Coles,wrote in comments that have sincebeen removed from his blog: A gaycouple is giving Densey and MaryCole a run for their money? Lets real-ly get the vote out for one of our own. I am not politically correct and neverwill be. Period! I am not going to let this

fruit loop couple beat one of our own!That posting inspired a litany of anti-gay anonymous posts against Howardand Jones including, these are all guyswho cant please a woman, faggotsdeserve to die, Homos are as sick aschild molesters and rapists, I hopethey all catch HIV, and more.

But theres also been an upside.Jones says hes heard from peoplewho harassed him with anti-gay slursin school whove now voted for he and

Howard to win. One even apologized.I cant even put it into words, Jones

says. Its a warm and amazing feeling.A handful of other same-sex couples

are also in the contest. One couple, Edand Erwin, who have two adopted sons,are facing Erwins terminal lung cancerand hope to wed before he dies. Theyhave more than 1,000 votes.

If they win, Howard and Joneswould like to wed on their anniver-sary: Oct. 10 (10/10/10). If not, theylllikely bump to April 2011.

Regardless of how it turns out, theyrehappy to have found each other andthrilled that they can marry in Washington.

It is so affirming that this is ournations capital and this [is] happeningright here around people making our

rights, laws and liberties, Jones says.It also makes a huge statement thatCongress had the ability to veto thisand they did not. It sends a really pos-itive message that this needs to beaccepted and that we are equal anddeserve every right that every othercouple in this country deserves.

To vote, go to www.ultimatewed-dingcontest.com and register an e-mail address. Howard and Jones arecouple number 22682.


localagenda

Washington residents Jonathan Howard (left) and Gregory Jones are hoping tostrike it big in a Crate & Barrel-sponsored wedding contest.

Photo by Heather Lyons; courtesy of Howard and Jones

Obstacles in the aisle

Marriage law prompts gay Md. couple to move to D.C.


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8 dcagenda.com march 5, 2010 districtagenda

Bishop Jackson led fight

against D.C. marriage law

By LOU CHIBBARO [email protected]

A Maryland-based church whose pastor isleading efforts to overturn D.C.s same-sexmarriage law is holding Sunday morning serv-ices at the E Street Cinema in downtownWashington, prompting some activists to callfor a boycott of the theater.

In a little-noticed development, HopeChristian Church of Beltsville, Md., recently

began holding weekly worship services at thetheater at 8:30 a.m. The church did notrespond to a call from DC Agenda to deter-mine if its pastor, Bishop Harry Jackson, leadsthe weekly services at the theater, which islocated at 11th and E streets, N.W.

The churchs web site says that it holds atleast three additional Sunday morning services atits main facility on Ammendale Road in Beltsville.

Landmark Theaters, owners of E StreetCinema, told DC Agenda that it could notrefuse service to the church and was obligat-ed in this instance to rent space to HopeChristian Church.

Landmark Theatres rents our auditoriums

out to many different types of organizationsand we do not have the right to refuse serviceto anyone based on their religious beliefs, anunidentified spokesperson wrote Monday in ane-mail to DC Agenda.

Timothy Daniels, a gay D.C. resident, hascalled the statement unacceptable and createda Facebook group promoting the boycott of EStreet Cinema.

In past years, E Street Cinema has servedas one of the venues for Reel Affirmations,D.C.s annual LGBT film festival. It remainsknown as a showcase for LGBT films and doc-umentaries.

Hope Christian Church is headed byBishop Harry Jackson, a vehemently vocalopponent of the D.C. LGBT community,Daniels says in his Facebook message.

Jackson has repeatedly attempted to over-turn the same-sex marriage law that the D.C.City Council passed and Mayor Adrian Fentysigned. His attempts have been unsuccessful,

and the marriage law is scheduled to takeeffect March 3, when Congress completes itsreview of the statute.

The citys Board of Elections & Ethics hasruled three times that Jacksons request for aballot measure to put the law to voters cannotbe held because, if approved, it would violatethe D.C. Human Rights Act. The boards deci-sions have been upheld by at least three D.C.Superior Court judges that have turned downJacksons appeals of the boards rulings.

[Jackson] continues to spread lies andfalsehoods about gay marriage rights in theDistrict, Daniels says in his Facebook mes-sage. We urge all of you that live in D.C. who

regularly attend movies at E Street Cinema tocease patronizing their business, and instead[move to] contacting Landmark Theatres andexpressing your strong disappointment at thisblatant hypocrisy.

But Rick Rosendall, vice president of theGay & Lesbian Activists Alliance, said it wouldbe a mistake to boycott or penalize E StreetCinema for renting space to Jacksons church.He noted that he and other activists would like-ly speak out against a boycott.

The E Street Cinema is a public accommo-dation and cannot discriminate on the basis ofreligion, Rosendall said. The same HumanRights Act that protects us protects Bishop

Jackson and his followers.He said the strategy employed by GLAA

and a coalition of other LGBT groups tooppose Jackson through legal and politicalchannels has succeeded.

We and our allies have consistently defeatedBishop Jackson in the polls, in the D.C. Council,at the Board of Elections & Ethics, in SuperiorCourt, and most recently in the Court of Appeals,he said. That doesnt justify complacency, but itshould give us pause before yielding to animpulse to return intolerance for intolerance.

Daniels said about 200 people have joinedhis Facebook group calling for a boycott of thetheater and the group would discuss whetherto go ahead with a boycott or take other meas-ures, such as a letter-writing campaign urgingLandmark Theatres to find a way to stop rent-ing space to Jacksons church.

In my opinion, there comes a point whereyou can only get slapped in the face so manytimes before you slap back, he said.

Churchs rental of E StreetCinema prompts boycott talk

Bishop Harry Jacksons church is holding services at a movie theater popular with LGBT patrons.


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9/40

Murphy confident Congress will overturn Dont Ask this yearSays lawmakers willtake up issue in

next couple months

By CHRIS [email protected]

The sponsor of Dont Ask, DontTell repeal legislation in the U.S.House is confident Congress willoverturn the law this year even asother lawmakers have indicatedrepeal may not happen until later.

In an interview with DC Agenda

Tuesday, Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) said he believed lawmakerswould overturn this year the 1993statute preventing gays, lesbians andbisexuals from serving openly in theU.S. military and that hes expectingCongress to take up the issue leg-islatively in the next couple months.

Murphy said the upcomingdefense authorization bill could be avehicle for passing repeal legislation.He noted that passage as part ofdefense authorization would give thePentagon time to complete the studycurrently underway on the law.

We usually dont pass that intolaw until October of that year,Murphy said. October is about sevenmonths away. Thats plenty of time forthe folks to get ready to just put out tothe troops that you need to respect

not just one anothers race, oneanother creed, but also one anotherssexual orientation.

Still, Murphy said defense author-ization was just one way that

Congress could enact repeal. Otheroptions remain available.

I think thats one of the vehiclesmoving forward, and so I anticipategetting this done this year, he said.

Murphy said momentum has beenbuilding toward repeal in the last cou-ple months, leading to a positionwhere Congress can overturn the1993 law. In particular, Murphy cited

the testimony Defense SecretaryRobert Gates and Chairman of theJoint Chiefs of Staff Adm. MichaelMullen gave last month in support ofending Dont Ask, Dont Tell.

Now is the time when senior lead-ership in our military who are responsi-ble to have the best policies for ouryoung men and women who serve thecountry are calling for the repeal ofDont Ask, Dont Tell as has ourcommander-in-chief, Murphy said. Sonow Congress needs to get off thesidelines and get this done this year.

Murphy said the growing numberof lawmakers who have expressed

support for repeal also is contributingto the momentum.

Last month, Murphy picked upanother co-sponsor for repeal legisla-tion in the House, Rep. PeterVisclosky (D-Ind.), bringing the totalnumber of co-sponsors for the MilitaryReadiness Enhancement Act to 188.Murphy said hes received commit-ments from about two dozen otherHouse members that theyd vote infavor of the bill should it come to afloor vote, which would bring the votesclose to the 218 needed for passage.

Murphy also expressed enthusi-

asm for plans by Sen. JosephLieberman (I-Conn.) to soon introducecompanion legislation in the Senateand said the independent senator


nationalagenda

U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), a military veteran, has led the House fight for repealing Dont Ask, Dont Tell.

Photo courtesy of Murphys office



10/40

Levin says Congress lacks votes for Dont Ask repealPush for moratoriumcould become

backup plan

By CHRIS [email protected]

A key senator who opposes DontAsk, Dont Tell is doubtful that suffi-cient support exists to repeal the lawthis year as he continues to push for alegislative moratorium on discharges.

Senate Armed Services CommitteeChair Carl Levin (D-Mich.) told

reporters following a hearing lastweek that he favors legislation tooverturn Dont Ask, Dont Tell thisyear, but said there will be great diffi-culty in succeeding in repeal.

Im in favor of repeal, but I dontfavor going to a vote if its going to bea setback for those of us who thinkthe program should be repealed, hesaid. I can take a whip check, but Ithink theres a real problem gettingrepeal approved.

Fearing a lack of votes, Levin saidhes pushing for a legislative morato-rium. He noted that such a measure

would be logical because it doesntpredetermine the outcome of thePentagon study currently underway.

Once the commander-in-chiefsays people shouldnt be dischargedfor simply being gay, I think theres real

dilemma, he said. And when we think

about that dilemma hopefully, welllead people to see that the moratoriumis an attractive position because itdoesnt prejudge the outcome.

Levin said he wants a legal opin-ion of the validity of a moratorium as

well as what will happen with pend-

ing discharges as the Pentagon com-pletes its review.Asked whether the White House

has been pushing for a moratorium asa way to address Dont Ask, Dont Tellthis year, Levin replied, Not to me. They

may have in some other place.

But groups opposing Dont Ask,Dont Tell are reluctant to embrace amoratorium and say theres still anopportunity this year for repealing thelaw outright. In an organizationalstatement sent by spokesperson

Trevor Thomas, the Human RightsCampaign emphasized the possibili-ty of repeal this year.

We believe the votes to repealthis failed law can be found andeveryone who wants to see DontAsk, Dont Tell end needs to strenu-ously lobby their elected leaders,says the statement.

Kevin Nix, spokesperson for theServicemembers Legal DefenseNetwork, was similarly bullish in a state-ment on passing full repeal this year.

Its too early to be talking about half measures like a moratorium,he said. Were focused squarely on

getting full, permanent repeal of[Dont Ask, Dont Tell] in the defenseauthorization bill.

Alex Nicholson, executive directorof Servicemembers United, said hewould support any measure that hada realistic chance of alleviating theburden on gay service members, butnoted that he was unconvinced amoratorium would be a politicallyeasier vote than outright repeal.

Weve heard from some officeson the Hill that they dont see a prac-tical difference between the two, hesaid. So if theres going to be a vote

on anything this year, we would like itto be on full repeal.Nicholson said he would much

prefer a push for a vote on full repeal


nationalagenda

Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Carl Levin doubts there are enough votes in Congress to repeal Dont Ask, DontTell this year.



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12/40

Obama nominates second lesbian U.S. attorneySan Diego prosecutor led

case against drug kingpinBy LOU CHIBBARO [email protected]

A lesbian prosecutor in San Diegocredited with coordinating high-profile nar-cotics cases along the U.S.-Mexico borderwas nominated last week by PresidentObama to be United States Attorney forthe Southern District of California.

If confirmed by the Senate, LauraDuffy would become the secondopenly gay person to serve as a U.S.attorney. In September, the Senate

confirmed lesbian attorney JennyDurkan as U.S. attorney for theWestern District of Washington. Herconfirmation took place four monthsafter Obama nominated her in May.

Duffy is one of four people Obamanominated last week for a U.S. attorneyposition in various parts of the country.

These distinguished men andwomen have shown extraordinarycommitment and integrity in their pur-suit of justice, Obama said in a state-ment. I am confident they will servethe American people wisely and effec-tively as United States attorneys.

Duffy has served as an assistantU.S. attorney in the Southern Districtof California, which is headquarteredin San Diego, since 1997. Sheserved in the Narcotics EnforcementSection of the office until 2007, when

she became deputy chief of theGeneral Crimes Section.

Before joining the SouthernDistrict office, she worked in theCriminal Division of the Departmentof Justice in Washington from 1993to 1997. In that post, she worked ini-tially as a trial attorney for the MoneyLaundering Section and later as atrial attorney for the Narcotics &Dangerous Drug Section.

Duffy is well regarded amongdefense attorneys and judges, and the

majority of her cases have involveddrug prosecutions, the San DiegoUnion-Tribune reported Wednesday.

Among the most widely reportedcases she prosecuted was that ofMexican drug kingpin Arellano Felix,

who was captured in 2006 on a boatoff the Mexican coast and brought toSan Diego, where he faced a possi-ble death penalty, the Union-Tribunereported. He later pleaded guilty andwas sentenced to life in prison.

If confirmed, Duffy would be one of93 U.S. attorneys serving in 94 federal

judicial districts throughout the country.The Southern District of California isthe nations sixth largest and has one ofthe largest caseloads in the country,according to the offices web site.

Duffy would be in charge of 120assistant U.S. attorneys, 38 part-timespecial assistant U.S. attorneys and168 support personnel. Being locat-ed on the Mexican border, the districtis in the midst of the joint U.S.-

Mexico effort to curtail the drugtrade, with drug-related prosecutionsrepresenting a large percentage ofits cases, the offices web site says.

Gay rights attorney Robert Raben,who served as an assistant attorney gen-eral during the Clinton administration, saidDuffys nomination, coming on the heels ofthe U.S. attorney nomination and confir-mation of Jenny Durkan in Washingtonstate, represents an important develop-ment for the LGBT community.

Raben noted that up until recently,very few known LGBT people haveserved in high-level law enforcementrelated positions.

It chips away at prejudice, he said.

Its enormous. Law enforcement, likeprofessional sports and acting, remainprofessions where people are pressedto be or act straight. It means the worldto the 15-year-old gay kid in SanDiego to see that a top law enforce-ment official is openly gay.

A Justice Department spokesper-son said that under the administrationspolicies regarding presidential nomi-nees, Duffy would not be available forcomment to the media until after theSenate votes on her confirmation.

We are thrilled with PresidentObamas nomination of Laura Duffy,

said Mario Guerrero, governmentaffairs director of Equality California,a statewide LGBT advocacy group.Her appointment as U.S. attorney isan important milestone for the LGBTcommunity as well as an inspiration.

nationalagenda


President Obama has nominated Laura Duffy, a lesbian, to be United States

attorney for the Southern District of California.

Image courtesy of NBC 7/39 via voiceofsandiego.org

Pentagon officialsto speak at HouseDont Ask hearing

WASHINGTON This weeksU.S. House hearing on Dont Ask,Dont Tell will feature testimonyfrom Defense Department officials,including the two people who areheading the study of the law thatsunderway at the Pentagon.

Jeh Johnson, general counselfor the Defense Department, andGen. Carter Ham, commandinggeneral for U.S. Army Europe, areslated to testify. Defense SecretaryRobert Gates has tasked both indi-viduals with co-chairing the workinggroup to examine how to best imple-

ment repeal of Dont Ask, Dont Tell.Another scheduled witness is

retired Marine Corps Gen. CliffordStanley, undersecretary of defensefor personnel readiness. Becauseof his position, hed oversee theimplementation of open service inthe military should Congressrepeal Dont Ask, Dont Tell.

The House Armed Services per-sonnel subcommittee will hold thehearing Wednesday at 2:30 pm. Itsset to take place in Room 2118 ofthe Rayburn House Office Building.

Rep. Susan Davis (D-Calif.), chair

of the subcommittee, said in a state-ment that the hearing would focus onthe Pentagons process for assess-ing the requirements for repeal.

CHRIS JOHNSON


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14 dcagenda.com march 5, 2010 nationalagenda

with modifications rather than settle for anequally tough vote on a temporary moratorium.

During the hearing Feb. 25, lawmakerspressed Navy and Marine Corps leaders fortheir views on Dont Ask, Dont Tell.

When Levin asked witnesses whether theysupport repeal of the 1993 law at this time, NavySecretary Ray Mabus said he favors repeal butalso supports the study advanced last month byDefense Secretary Robert Gates.

Since Dont Ask, Dont Tell is a law, what-ever happens resides in Congress, he said. Isupport the repeal of Dont Ask, Dont Tell, and

I think the president has come up with a verypractical and workable way to do that.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. GaryRoughead and Marine Corps Commandant Gen.James Conway reiterated their support for thePentagons review as they had done in congres-sional testimony Feb. 24.

But Conway said he wouldnt want anychange to undermine military readiness, andnoted that Dont Ask, Dont Tell is working. Headvised against any change at this time.

At this point, I think the current policyworks, he said. My best military advice to thiscommittee, to the secretary, to the president,would be to keep the law such as it is.

In a statement, SLDN Executive DirectorAubrey Sarvis rebuked Conway for hisremarks, saying the commandant was having itboth ways by supporting a study gearedtoward ending Dont Ask, Dont Tell andopposing repeal at this time.

General Conway was the only chief to sayto Congress [last] week that the law is work-ing, Sarvis said. It is not working. Having alaw on the books that fires talented troops, at atime of two wars when all manpower is need-ed, is not effective and does not enhance theperformance and readiness of the force.

During the hearing, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), whos expected to introduce Senaterepeal legislation, said he agreed with Conway

that overturning Dont Ask, Dont Tell should beheld up to the standard of the military readiness.

Im supportive of the end to Dont Ask,Dont Tell, he said. I believe its the fair andright thing to do, but in the end this has topass the test of military readiness.

Lieberman said he believes repeal willpass this test based on whats happened inother countries that have lifted their bans onopen service.

I hope that we will conclude repealingDont Ask, Dont Tell will enhance military

readiness, but thats yet to be determined asthe study goes on, he said.

The issue of what the United States canlearn from foreign militaries in implementingrepeal also emerged during the hearing.Roughead said the working group was neces-sary to examine the impact on repeal on theU.S. Navy. He said other studies on the effectof repeal on other navies that have lifted banson open service dont address the conse-quences of repeal in the United States.

While I have high regard for those other forces,they are not us, they do not come from our culture,they do not come from the beliefs that young menand women bring into the service, he said.

Nathaniel Frank, author of Unfriendly Fire

and research fellow at the Palm Center, hasemphasized in arguments in favor of repealthat other countries have lifted bans on openservice. Responding to Roughead, Frank saidthe United States can learn from those coun-tries as it has on other issues.

Theres no question that each culture is dif-ferent, each military is different, he said. Butthe U.S. military has repeatedly looked to othermilitaries to study issues, including this issue,as well as housing and health and personnelmanagement.

Levin skeptical that Congress

will repeal Dont Ask

U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman said that ending'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is the 'right thing to do.'


Second arrest made in D.C. gay murderD.C. police announced last week that they have made a second arrest in the Jan. 10

shooting death of gay Maryland resident Gordon Rivers.Police identified the second suspect as 22-year-old Anthony Hager of Temple Hills, Md.,

and said his arrest took place Feb. 25. It follows the arrest on Jan. 28 of 17-year-old WilliamWren, who was charged as an adult.

Both men have been charged with first-degree felony murder while armed in connectionwith Rivers murder. Police said the murder occurred about 5:30 p.m. on the 2600 block ofNaylor Rd., S.E. A police affidavit released at the time of Wrens arrest says Wren and anaccomplice planned to rob Rivers inside Rivers car after Wren telephoned Rivers and invit-ed him to meet Wren in a location near where 17-year-old youth lived.

It could not immediately be determined if Hager is the unidentified accomplice describedin the affidavit for Wrens arrest.

Police and the United States Attorneys office, which is prosecuting the case, havedeclined to say how Rivers and Wren met. The affidavit says Wren told police he and Riversknew each other prior to the time of the murder. Authorities have also declined to disclose

whether Rivers sexual orientation was a factor in his murder.Wren told police he accidently shot Rivers after the two struggled inside Rivers car fol-

lowing a botched robbery. Wren told police the gun belonged to Rivers, but a witness said hesaw Wren bring the gun into Rivers car minutes before the fatal shooting.

LOU CHIBBARO JR.

Continued from page 10

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Murphy cautions

against half steps

in Dont Ask repeal

should be able to bring Democrats andRepublicans on board.

I know hes committed to repealing DontAsk, Dont Tell, Murphy said. I know he knowsthe best thing for our military, and frankly, whenit comes to foreign policy, I think hes been oneof the leaders in the Senate.

Murphy said hes expecting Liebermansbill to be similar to his in terms of doing awaywith Dont Ask, Dont Tell and providing for a

non-discrimination policy. But Murphy saidhes unsure about other details, such aswhether Liebermans bill will have a longerimplementation time to allow the Pentagon tocomplete its study on the law.

The lawmaker is not alone in expectingthat Congress will repeal Dont Ask, DontTell this year. On Saturday, Joe Solmonese,president of the Human Rights Campaign,said at a fundraising dinner in Raleigh, N.C.,that 2010 would be the year that advocateswould do away with the ban on open servicein the military.

Despite these expectations, others haveexpressed doubt about whether Congress willrepeal Dont Ask, Dont Tell this year.

Media reports have indicated the WhiteHouse hasnt provided Congress a clear pathforward on proceeding with repeal. Rep.Barney Frank (D-Mass.) recently told DCAgenda the White House has been mud-dled on the issue and that hes hoping theWhite House makes the path clear forCongress in coming weeks.

But Murphy said the White House hasbeen crystal clear in that Congress shouldwork to do away with Dont Ask, Dont Tell.

The commander-in-chief has said that hewants the Congress to put a bill on his desk tofinally repeal this harmful policy that has hurt ournational security and has cost the American tax-

payer $1.3 billion, Murphy said.Another voice of doubt comes from Senate

Armed Services Committee Chair Carl Levin (D-Mich.), who said hes skeptical the votes arethere to repeal the law banning open service.

Levin has been floating the idea of a legisla-tive moratorium on discharges, which he saidlawmakers might more likely support because itdoesnt predetermine the outcome of the studycurrently underway at the Pentagon.

But Murphy called a moratorium half-step-ping and said that full repeal of Dont Ask,Dont Tell is still the way to go.

This is a time when we need to make surethat we refocus our efforts on capturing or kil ling

Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda, Murphy said.Now is not the time to have Chapter 15 inves-tigations and hearing if someone is gay orstraight in our military.

Along with many other Democratic law-makers, Murphy could face a difficult re-elec-tion campaign this fall. A number ofRepublicans have lined up to challenge thelawmaker, including Mike Fitzpatrick, the for-mer House member whom Murphy ousted in2006 by taking 50.3 percent of the vote.

Asked whether his public support forrepealing Dont Ask, Dont Tell was havingan impact on his constituents view of him,Murphy dismissed such worries about his re-election prospects.

I wasnt elected to worry about re-elec-tion, he said. I was elected to make sure thatIm fighting for the families of our military andto keep our country and our economy strong,and Im doing everything in my power to makegood on that special trust and confidence.


nationalagenda



16/40

New report undermines officers letter supporting Dont AskSome signers involved in

career-ending scandalsBy CHRIS [email protected]

A number of high-ranking militaryofficers whose names appear on awell-publicized letter supporting DontAsk, Dont Tell were involved in career-ending scandals or have said the letterdoesnt represent their views, accord-ing to Servicemembers United.

The organizations preliminary inves-tigation of 200 names on the letter,which more than 1,100 flag and general

officers signed, reveals new informationthat could undermine the documentsupporting the 1993 law barring gaysfrom serving openly in the military.

Alex Nicholson, executive directorof Servicemembers United, said hisorganizations report speaks to anoverall lack of expertise the signershave on the views of service mem-bers of the 21st century military.

Elaine Donnelly, president of theCenter of Military Readiness, gatheredthe names for the letter, which was firstpublished last year. She didnt respondto multiple requests from DC Agendato comment on ServicemembersUniteds report.

Supporters of Dont Ask, DontTell have often cited the letter as evi-dence of military support for keeping thelaw on the books. Sen. John McCain (R-

Ariz.), an opponent of repeal, held upthe letter during a Senate hearing on

Dont Ask, Dont Tell last month.I hope youll pay attention to the

views of over 1,000 retired flag andgeneral officers, McCain told DefenseSecretary Robert Gates at the timeregarding the study of Dont Ask, DontTell thats underway at the Pentagon.

But Servicemembers Uniteds report titled, Flag and General Officers forthe Military: A Closer Look shedsnew light on the letter. Nicholson saidone of the most striking discoveries wasthe age of many signers.

Only a small fraction of these offi-cers have even served in the military

during the Dont Ask, Dont Tell peri-od, much less in the 21st century mil-itary, Nicholson said. How can theseflag officers honestly claim to knowhow accepting and tolerant 18- and21-year-olds are today when most ofthem havent been that age them-selves since the 1940s and 1950s?

The report found the average ageamong is the officers is 74, the oldestliving signer is 98, and several sign-ers died in the time since the docu-ment was published.

At least one signer, Gen. LouisMenetrey, was deceased when theletter was published and didnt signthe document himself. According to afootnote on the letter, his wife signedthe document for him after his deathusing power of attorney six yearsafter Alzheimers disease robbed him

of the ability to communicate.Servicemembers United findings

also indicate the letter doesnt representthe viewpoints of some officers who pur-portedly signed it. One signer said theyno longer want to be a part of the letter,writing to the organization, I do not wishto be on any list regarding this issue.

Others said they never agreed tosign in the first place. One general wrote,I never agreed. To represent either sideof this issue. Another wrote, I do notremember being asked about this issue.

DC Agenda independently foundone general who acknowledged sign-ing the letter, but said he nowbelieves gays should be allowed to

serve in the armed forces so long asthey adhere to the code of conduct.

I do not believe there should beany limitations based on sexual ori-entation, said the general, whoasked not to be identified.

In addition to signers who say theletter doesnt represent their views,others were involved in scandals tar-nishing their careers. Nicholson saidthe number of scandals in which sign-ers have been involved jumps out asa major component of the report,adding some officers made heinousfailures of judgment and leadership.

The report identifies seven officersthat were involved in such incidents:

Brig. Gen. Eddie Cain was in theearly 1990s director of the Pentagonagency in charge of the anthrax vac-cine administered to troops and testi-

fied before Congress the vaccinewas safe and tested. Later reports

showed it was neither. Cain wasrevealed to have known his testimo-ny was inaccurate, and wrote in per-sonal e-mails that if Congress foundout, hed be in big-time trouble.

Brig. Gen. David Boland in 1994was executive director of a boot campfor at-risk children at Camp Wiecker,Conn., that was mired in problemsand later discontinued. According tothe New York Times, gang recruit-ment, sexual relations between stu-dents and faculty, drug use, gamblingrings and widespread violence andfighting including one fight that

resulted in 14 arrests took place atCamp Wiecker under Bolands super-vision. Boland later stepped down topursue other interests.

Rear Adm. Riley Mixson in 1993received a career-ending letter of cen-sure from then-Navy Secretary JohnDalton for involvement in the 1991Tailhook scandal, during which hefailed to take action against allegationsof sexual misconduct. According to theNew York Times, Mixson was cited forfailing to take action when he saw awoman drink from a dispenser made tolook like a rhinoceros penis and menshaving womens legs.

Gen. Carl Mundy made severalstatements in 1993 on CBS 60Minutes that racial minority soldiersdont swim as well or perform otherduties as well as white troops. He also

once unilaterally banned marriedrecruits from joining the Marine Corps,

a move Defense Secretary Les Aspinrescinded the following week.

Lt. Gen. Fred McCorkle was headof Marine Corps Aviation in the late1990s, during the design and testphase of the V-22 Osprey. He oversawcost overruns and allegedly falsifiedrecords all while praising the air-craft. McCorkle now works for and sitson the boards of several companiesthat manufacture Osprey components.

Brig. Gen. Gary Pendleton wasnamed in a lawsuit in 2008 for unlaw-fully discriminating on the basis ofrace against an employee in award-

ing her a lower annual bonus thanher co-workers. Pendleton was alsosaid to have fired the employee inretaliation for her complaints.

Brig. Gen. Darryl Powell oversawin 1985 a spike in malpractice law-suits as commander of MadiganArmy Medical Center. In one case, awoman was injected with formalde-hyde instead of medication, killingher and her unborn child.

Nicholson said even with thesescandals, the majority of the officers onthe letter served with distinction. Still, hequestioned whether the more than1,100 officers who signed the letterunderstand the attitudes and beliefs ofthe young people in service today.

It is simply unreasonable to thinkthat any of them can be experts onthe new generation [of] youth.

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18 dcagenda.com march 5, 2010 nationalagenda

Effort to include congressionalbriefing next weekBy CHRIS [email protected]

An adoption anti-discrimination bill previ-ously introduced in the U.S. House is set to geta new start this week when the bills sponsorreintroduces it with modified language.

Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.), the sponsor ofthe Every Child Deserves a Family Act, is plan-ning to reintroduce the bill which would pro-hibit discrimination against LGBT people seek-

ing to adopt children after having introducedit for the first time last year.Additionally, on March 11, Stark plans to

lead a congressional briefing panel on CapitolHill featuring discussion from experts on LGBTadoption. The dialogue is intended to educatelawmakers on the bills importance.

Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of theFamily Equality Council, said the reintroducedlegislation would be similar in scope to the previ-ously introduced bill, except it would make tech-nical changes and allow for new education oppor-tunities for programs helping children find homes.

This bill added some language around train-ing and education to help people understandwhat it is that they can and should do when itcomes to looking for potential parents, she said.

The earlier version of the adoption anti-dis-crimination bill has 14 co-sponsors. Chrisler saidthe co-sponsors for the earlier legislation wouldgo to the newer version upon its introduction.

To bar discrimination against LGBT peopleseeking to adopt, the proposed legislationwould restrict federal funds for states that havelaws or practices barring LGBT people fromtaking children into their homes.

Currently, three states bar LGBT people fromadopting children. Another seven states dontpermit same-sex couples to jointly adopt. Florida,for example, has a statute in place prohibitinggays from adopting, while Arkansas voters in

2008 approved Act 1, which prevents all co-habi-tating unmarried couples from adopting children.

The laws in 34 other states are unclearabout whether same-sex couples may jointlyadopt, sometimes resulting in discrimination.

Chrisler said the legislation is intended toprovide an incentive for states so they dontdiscriminate and instead focus on whats inthe best interest of the children, which is reallyfinding the right home for that particular child.

The legislation, Chrisler said, would helpthousands of children in foster care throughoutthe country find new homes.

This is fundamentally, at its heart, a childwelfare bill that seeks to open up more pools ofpotential parents to provide a loving, stablehome environment to children who need thosehomes, she said.

Chrisler said about 500,000 children in theU.S. are in the foster care system, and about120,000 are legally available for adoption.

Children who never find homes have beenfound to be at greater r isk for various problemsas they enter adulthood. Chrisler said in 2007,more than 25,000 youth aged out of the fos-ter care system, and these children were athigher risk for poverty, homelessness, incar-ceration and early parenthood.

A bill like this helps shine a light on the factthat the more available parents that we have toprovide loving, permanent homes for children

who need them, the better the outcomes forthose kids will be, Chrisler said.

Chrisler said research from the WilliamsInstitute, a think-tank on sexual orientation at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles, shows thatmore than 2 million LGBT people throughout the

country have considered becoming parents, butare barred from existing state laws from doing so.

If even a quarter of them became foster oradoptive parents, it would meet the needs of all500,000 children waiting in the foster care sys-tem, she said.

The Every Child Deserves a Family Act ismodeled after the Multi-Ethnic Placement Actof 1994 as amended in 1996, which similarlyprohibits states from receiving federal funds ifthey engage in racial or ethnic discriminationwhen placing children into homes.

Asked whether she thinks Congress willpass the legislation this year, Chrislerexpressed uncertainty but noted that advo-cates will continue to support its passage.

Im optimistic that we can leverage this billto have really good educational conversations,she said. I think as anybody who has watchedCongress knows, the process of making a billinto a law is a complicated one, but we aregoing to put all of our energy and all ourresources into trying to do just that.

Chrisler said Stark is optimistic the bill willhave a hearing in the House Ways & Means

subcommittee to which its been assigned.She also said advocates are working on

getting a Senate companion for the bill intro-duced, although she declined to disclosewhich senator she was seeking as a sponsorfor the legislation.

Adoption anti-discriminationbill gets reboot in House

Jennifer Chrisler

Photo courtesy of familyequality.org

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20 dcagenda.com march 5, 2010 districtagenda

HRCs president. Today represents a hard-fought victory for D.C. residents and a poignantreminder here in the home of our federal gov-ernment and most cherished national monu-

ments of the historic progress being madetoward ensuring equality for all across the nation.

Solmonese and Rea Carey, the Task Forcesexecutive director, thanked D.C. Mayor AdrianFenty and D.C. City Council members who sup-ported the same-sex marriage effort for theircommitment to equality.

This is a profoundly moving moment for manyD.C. same-sex couples and their families, Careysaid. To finally be able to share and celebrate oneslove and commitment both publicly and legally is alifelong dream for many.

Couples applied for their marriage licenses oneday after U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Robertsdenied a request that Washingtons same-sex mar-

riage law be prevented from taking effect, a movethat would have given opponents more time toorganize a voter referendum to overturn the law.

Roberts, who ruled on the matter on behalf ofthe court, issued a three-page decision sayingBishop Harry Jackson of Hope Christian Churchand others opposed to the marriage law failed toshow in their request that they could win thecase on its merits, or that allowing the law to takeeffect would cause them irreparable harm.

Roberts said the opponents argument thatthe D.C. Board of Elections & Ethics actedimproperly by denying the referendum requeston groups that it would violate the citys HumanRights Act has some force.

Without addressing the merits of the peti-tioners underlying claim, however, I concludethat a stay is not warranted, he wrote.

Roberts cited past rulings of the SupremeCourt that have said its the courts practice todefer to the decisions of the courts of the Districtof Columbia on matters of exclusively local con-cern. The D.C. Superior Court and Court ofAppeals previously ruled against Jacksonsrequest for a stay of the same-sex marriage law.

As the courts have uniformly recognized inupholding D.C.s broad anti-discriminationlaws, Solmonese said, no one should have tohave their marriages or any of their civilrights put to a public vote.

D.C. court officials were quick to welcome the

more then 100 same-sex couples that arrived beforenoon Wednesday to seek a marriage license.

Leah Gurowitz, a court spokesperson,described the courthouse halls as being festiveas clerks processed about 20 to 25 coupleseach hour. She said the couples took to congrat-

ulating each other after completing the marriageapplication process.

As each couple walks out of the MarriageBureau and theres a long line everybodyclaps and cheers, she said. People have beenvery festive.

Gurowitz said 101 same-sex coupleschecked in before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Shenoted that so many couples came to the court-house that additional markers indicating eachcouples position in line were printed.

It is a line and its going to take an hour ortwo, or for some people three, she said. Were

just going as quickly as we can.D.C. Superior Court Chief Judge Lee

Satterfield, who oversees the courts MarriageBureau, said the influx of marriage license appli-cations was far above average. The court normal-ly gets about 10 to 12 applications each day.

To help reduce wait time and ensure the appli-cation process goes smoothly, Satterfield said

there are several things same-sex couples can dobefore they arrive at the courthouse.For instance, come with a complete applica-

tion, he said. We loaded the application on ourweb site: dccourts.gov. You can go into the SuperiorCourt section, or actually, theres a link on the frontpage for folk to go right to the Marriage Bureau sec-tion and get the application so they complete it.

I think its important that folk some of thethings we see happen to folk that end up havingto come back is that they dont come down withtheir identification because the law requires thatyou have to be 18 years and older.

And so if theres one party coming down,they may come down with their own but not withtheir partners so they have to make sure theyhave some identification, whether its a driverslicense, passport, birth certificate, not just forthemselves but the person theyre marrying.

Satterfield also noted that couples applying formarriage licenses should bring $35 in cash or amoney order, plus $10 for the marriage certificate.

Couples planning to return to the court-house for a civil marriage ceremony shouldexpect to wait at least 10 days before a time isavailable, Satterfield said. But once scheduled,same-sex couples need not worry that a courtofficial might decline to marry them.

You know the law, as I understand it in theDistrict of Columbia, does not allow that when itcomes to employees of the court, he said. It does

so for clergy and others. It allows them to decline.It doesnt allow for our folk to do so.

While I dont discuss personnel matters,what I will say is this: We expect to have any-one doing and officiating weddings to be offici-ating all weddings.

Courthouse festive as couplesapply for marriage licenses

Bet Mishpachah celebrated D.C.s marriage equality law earlier this week with a reception at the BlackFox Lounge. Rabbi Toby Manewith raises her glass in a toast along with Jewish LGBT couples excited

about the historic new law. For more photos from the event, visit dcagenda.com.





21/40



22/40



23/40

Kudos to BobSummersgill for years

of work in D.C.

By LANE HUDSON

This week, the District of Columbiacompleted a long journey to full civilequality for its LGBT residents. Theimages of happy couples leaving theD.C. Superior Courthouse wavingtheir marriage licenses is somethingthat many of us have waited to see

for so long.It was a major cause of celebra-tion and celebrate we did. Part of cel-ebrating always involves a fair shareof congratulatory gestures and thishas been no exception.

One local resident who deservesmuch of the credit for this victory is BobSummersgill. Bob is a quietly intenseman who has been the guiding hand ofachieving full civil equality for LGBT cit-izens in the District of Columbia. Theamazing thing about his work is that itwas done largely during the years ofmeddling Republican majorities inCongress in the George W. Bush

years. While many national activists,myself included, have decried an incre-mental approach as highly unsuccess-ful on the federal level, Bob perfected iton the local level.

Heres how he described it in arecent interview in Metro Weekly: Istarted a little program to figure outwhat all the rights and responsibilitiesof marriage are, with the idea thateventually we would get marriage andin the meantime, while we still had theRepublican Congress and president,we should add as many of thoserights and responsibilities to domesticpartners as we can. And since theresgoing to be a little trouble to get thesethings added while the Republicansare in control, well do it in smallpieces so they wont notice. Or they

wont take offense at this one littlepiece or that one little piece, and overtime it will add up to everything.

At the time, the domestic partner-ship law that Bob had worked withthe Council to improve over the yearshad just included the final pieces toprovide the full suite of rights toLGBT couples that the District offersnon-LGBT couples. The only thingleft was to call it marriage.

By the way folks are talking now,youd think everybody was fully onboard with the marriage effort.However, the question of whether togo for the gold and pursue marriage

was controversial a few years ago.During the 2006 election, I set out toask all of the candidates running forlocal office if they would pursue fullmarriage equality if the Democrats

won at least one house of Congress.They all said yes.

At a meeting in the HRC head-quarters after Democrats won not justone, but both houses of Congress, I

posed the question of why no one wasworking to achieve marriage equalitygiven the enormous political shift inCongress, which would surely haveoverturned it before the Democratic

victories. I was overcome by thevoracity of the response from a coupleof activists. Never had I been yelled atin a public forum.

At that meeting, I met MichaelCrawford and together, we set out tobegin a conversation on achievingmarriage equality in D.C. Although aconsensus to go for the gold wasemerging, we continued to encounteropposition from some vocal advocateswithin our own community. Eventually,a handful of us came together to foundDC for Marriage to carry on the workto achieve marriage rights.

When DC for Marriage was found-ed, Bob Summersgill was there. Oureffort, which might have been por-trayed by some as a radical idea atthe time, was given significant credi-bility because of Bobs presence. Itwould have been easy for him to fol-low the lead of those he had workedwith for years. Instead, he set hissights on the prize and worked vora-ciously to win it.

While we take time to thank thecountless numbers of people whobrought us this great victory forequality, lets be sure to thank BobSummersgill. Without him, the victory

may have proved elusive.

Lane Hudson is a D.C.-basedLGBT rights activist. Reach him [email protected]

The guiding hand in winning marriage equality

personalagenda

Hundreds of local residents lined up for marriage license applications onWednesday at the Superior Courthouse. This weeks victory was made possible inlarge part because of the work of Bob Summersgill.


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friday, march 5Join the DC FRONT RUNNERS fortheir First Friday Happy Hour from6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Green Lantern,

located at 1335 Green Court, N.W.Participate in GAY DISTRICT from8:30-10:30 p.m. at St. MargaretsEpiscopal Church. Gay District is aweekly, non-church affiliated discus-sion and social group for GBTQ menbetween 18 and 35. The group meetsat St. Margarets Episcopal Church(1820 Connecticut Ave., N.W., justnorth of Dupont Circle. For more infor-mation, e-mail [email protected], held from 10 p.m.-3 a.m.,returns to the Green Lantern, 1335Green Court, N.W. Raw is an electro-disco party on the first Friday of each

month at the Green Lantern, inspiredby gay parties of the early 80s. Joinyour host, Karl Marks, and residentDJs, Shea and Bil, for some retrofun, fog, lasers, strobe lights andthrobbing music. Free entry before11 p.m., cover is just $3 after that.Town Danceboutique, located at2009 8th St., N.W., presents its SO,YOU THINK YOURE A DRAGQUEEN? competition. Doors openat 10 p.m. with the drag show/contestat 10:30 p.m. Contestants mustarrive at the club by 10 p.m. (no laterthan 10:15) and bring a CD with asong you want to perform. Makeup

should be done before your arrival.The audience decides the winnerwith a grand prize of $250BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay vol-

unteer organization, holds its MarchPost-Valentine Sweet & SentimentalSocial. To participate, visit burgundy-crescent.org.

saturday, march 6Join your hosts and DJs RichardMorel and Bob Mould for BLOWOFFat the 9:30 club, located at 815 V St.,N.W. Doors open at 11:30 p.m. with a$12 cover.DC METRO LGBT IT PROFESS-IONALS meets from 10-11 a.m. atSteamCafe, 17th & R streets. RSVPat meetup.com at: newtech.meet-

up.com/51/THOM BIERDZ will create a paintingto be auctioned off to support OUT forWork on Saturday, March 6 from 6-9p.m. at MOVA Lounge (formerlyHalo) at 1435 P St., N.W. Bierdz is thefirst openly gay actor to play an open-ly gay character, Phillip Chancellor III,on CBS The Young & the Restless.(See full story on page 30.)EFF WINTER DANCE PARTY is heldfrom 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at FreddiesBeach Bar, 555 23rd St., SouthArlington, Va. Party is 21+. There is a$5 cover, which benefits Capital Pride.The March edition of the monthly

gear/fetish party CODE at MotleyBar above EFN Lounge, 1318 9thSt., N.W., 9 p.m.-3 a.m., will featureDJ Shea Van Horn. Admission is

$10. Code is an 18+ event. Gear,rubber, skin, uniform or leather dresscode will be strictly enforced.JAM @ MOVA Lounge at 1435 PSt., N.W., 9 p.m. 3 a.m. Join B.O.I.and the ladies of Mixology as theytake over MOVA Lounge. Come outand mingle, dance, drink or chill.In recognition of National BlackHIV/AIDS Awareness Day, FOOD &FRIENDS will host a free communityevent 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the RiggsLaSalle Community Center, 501Riggs Rd., N.E. Free shuttle from theFort Totten Metro Station (on the

Red, Green-Yellow Lines). This freecommunity event is open to all agesand includes free HIV testing andcounseling, educational workshopsand free food and entertainment.DCist.com holds its fourth annualDCIST EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHYSHOW at Long View Gallery, March6-21. Out of more than 1,000 entriessubmitted through Flickr.com, 47winning images were selected by apanel to be included in this yearsDCist Exposed exhibit. This yearsopening reception will be Saturday,6-10 p.m., $5 at the door. Long ViewGallery is located at 1234 9th St.,

N.W., just a few blocks from the Mt.Vernon/Convention Center Metro.A NIGHT OUT AT SILO POINT, a ben-efit for Moveable Feast. Built in 1923,the B&O Railroad grain terminal inBaltimore was the biggest and fastestgrain elevator in the world. Today, its acontemporary 24-story condo towerrising above the Inner Harbor. Tour thebuilding and help Moveable Feastwhile youre at it food and cocktails,dance to DJ D-Rizzo and tour six dec-orated models, 8 p.m.-12 a.m., 1200Steuart St., Baltimore. Tickets are $45per person or $75 per couple, pur-

chase online at mfeast.org.

sunday, march 7Join the DC Center at TownDanceboutique, 2009 8th St., N.W., forthe 5th Annual Oscar celebration,GLAMOUR, GLITTER, & GOLD.Doors open at 7 p.m.; general admissionis $15 in advance or $20 at the door.V.I.P. admission, $100. Purchase ticketsat thedccenter.org or for more informa-tion e-mail [email protected] DC at EFN Lounge, 13189th St., N.W., 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Ginger

Glamour joins the Queen of theHouse Alondra St. Cartier on theAzcar stage and DJ MichaelBrandon plays your favorite hits.

Always 18 to dance, 21 to drink.THE OSCARS at Black Fox Lounge.Black Fox is located two blocks northof Dupont Circle on ConnecticutAvenue, between R and S Streets.Complimentary hors doeuvres, blacktie optional. Prizes for Best DressedMale and Best Dressed Female. 8-11:30 p.m. No cover.THOM BIERDZ will be signingcopies of Forgiving Troy, at theBooks-A-Million, Dupont Circlelocation from 3-5 p.m.

monday, march 8

GLBT YOUTH SUPPORT GROUP willmeet from 4:30-6 p.m. at the GW CenterClinic, 1922 F St., N.W., Suite 103.BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay vol-unteer organization, has volunteeropportunities for Food & Friends andfor the HRC phone banks. To partici-pate, visit burgundycrescent.org.

tuesday, march 9Town Danceboutique, located at2009 8th St., N.W., presentsSPEAKEASY. The topic isAmerican Idol: Stories about brush-

es with fame. Doors open at 6:30p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.$10 cover, 21+. To sign up or formore info visit speakeasydc.com

BURGUNDY CRESCENT, a gay volun-teer organization, volunteers today forthe Safer Sex Kit Packing Program. Toparticipate, visit burgundycrescent.org.

wednesday, march 10HOLLABACK TRANSGENDERSUPPORT GROUP meets from6:30-8 p.m. in the DC Center ActivityRoom. Hollaback is a program of theDC Community AIDS Network. TheDC Center is located at 1810 14thSt., N.W., convenient to the UStreet/Cardozo Metro stop, and onthe 14th Street bus lines.

thursday, march 11WHITMAN WALKER: READY FORCHANGE Harm Reduction Group,MRC, 2301 MLK Ave., S.E. from 3-5 p.m.DINING OUT FOR LIFE, an annualbenefit for Food & Friends is held tonightat various restaurants around the citythat donate a percentage of their take tocharity. The Burgundy Crescent hasrelated volunteer opportunities avail-able. To participate, visit foodand-friends.org or burgundycrescent.org.(See related story on page 26)

socialagenda

Gay director LEE DANIELS is nominated for an Academy Award for Precious.The Oscars are held Sunday night and there are numerous parties aroundD.C. where you can watch the ceremony, including an event at Town sponsoredby the DC Center.

Photo courtesy of Lee Daniels Entertainment

DJs BOB MOULD and Richard Morel host BLOWOFF at 9:30 club.

Photo by Noah Kalina

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Antique PorcelainsArader GalleriesArtemis GalleryGary BardsleyBarometer FairDavid Brooker Fine ArtSue Brown

Alfred Bullard, Inc.Douglas Constant

William Cook AntiquesCunha/St. John Antiques

Dubeys Art & Antiques, Inc.Essex AntiquariansOlivier Fleury, Inc.FraMontRoberto Frietas American Antiques

& Decorative ArtsKeith Funston Antiques

J. GallagherMarilyn GarrowGates Antiques, Ltd.

Judd Gregory Fine AntiquesHamshere GalleryHanes & Ruskin AntiquesHoopersImperial Fine Books

Johanna AntiquesChristopher H. Jones

Kembles AntiquesJ. LiaBraaten AntiquesChristine Magne, AntiquaireMalcolm Magruder

Aileen Minor AntiquesJohn Murray Antique Tribal &

Village RugsNeverbird AntiquesNorwoods Spirit of AmericaPercys SilverPiccolo Art

James L. Price AntiquesCharles Edwin PuckettRick Scott Antique BoxesG. Sergeant Antiques LLCThe Silver FundThe Silver Vault

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Its time again for one ofWashingtons most popular charityevents. Dining Out for Life, in whichabout 150 local restaurants donate aportion of their proceeds to locals facingAIDS and other life-threatening illness-es, is slated for Thursday, March 11.

The event is now in its 14th year.This year some of our all-time faves,

like Annies, Tosca and Posto, are con-tributing 100 percent of their proceedsto Food & Friends and for the first timeever we have a restaurant contributing110 percent Freddies Beach Bar,says Lisa Bandera, communicationsdirector for Food & Friends.

Bandera says Annies ParamountSteakhouse, the legendary 17thStreet LGBT-friendly restaurant, hasparticipated every year since DiningOut began. And it was Freddiesowner Freddie Lutzs idea to bumpup the stakes to 110 percent thisyear. His is the only restaurant to dothat. The donation will apply to itsdinner sales that day.

Annies, Posto and Ristorante

Tosca are the other 100 percent din-ner participants. Gay-owned LevelOne (downstairs at Cobalt) is giving50 percent of its dinner proceeds.Other gay-owned and gay-friendly

restaurants participating includeCommissary at 25 percent for lunchand dinner and CommonWealthGastropub, Dupont Italian Kitchen,

Hanks Oyster Bar, Banana Cafe andothers at 25 percent for dinner. Acomplete list of participants is avail-able at diningoutforlife.com.

socialagenda

FREDDIE LUTZ, seen here in a DC Agenda file photo, has upped the stakes for thisyears Dining Out for Life event. Hes donating 110 percent of his proceeds Thursdayto the charity.

Agenda file photo by Joey DiGuglielmo

Dining Out for Life set for

ThursdayOne in Ten, a Washington-based

organization whose main function isstaging the annual Reel AffirmationsLGBT film festival is, in its 20th year,an organization in transition.

Margaret Murray, a local lesbianwhod been One in Tens executivedirector for four years, left in Octoberto join the Physicians Committee forResponsible Medicine. The boardopted not to immediately fill herposition.

Theres been a question of, Dowe really need a full-time executivedirector, says Lisa King, aWashington lesbian and presidentof the One in Ten board. Because ofthe nature of One in Ten and ourstructure right now, there are a lot oftimes during the year when it wouldbe great to have someone full timebut isnt entirely necessary werestill looking at the possibility.

The festival, which happens inD.C. and Silver Spring, Md., eachOctober, will continue as always, butsome other events have come andgone. The board is working hard, Kingsays, to resurrect some of the morepopular events from years past. DivasOutdoors, a popular series that findsold movies being shown at Hillwood

Museum & Gardens, is set for June19 and 25, though the films that willbe shown havent been announced. Akick-off party for the 20th anniversary

year is planned for April, though the

date is yet to be determined. And theboard is hopeful that an event thathad been on hiatus walk the redcarpet will happen in May.

The board is seeking input fromthe local LGBT community aboutwhat it wants from One in Ten andwhere the organization should go.Everyone is welcome March 18 at7 p.m. at the Human RightsCampaign building (1640 RhodeIsland Ave., N.W.) for a town hall-type strategy session.

The organization, which previous-ly employed one full-time and twopart-time workers until about threeyears ago, is having most of its officework performed by contractors. Toughfinancial times are partially to blame,King says, but she also says the non-profit is in a good place and willrebound as the economy recovers.

Some have asked if gay film fes-tivals are still essential with gay-themed films increasingly acceptedin mainstream theaters. King saysthe festivals remain important.

Theres nothing that can replacethe audience that you would experi-ence at a gay film festival, she says.Its nice to see that you can go

somewhere and experience yourcommunity within your community.You cant get that going to seeBrokeback Mountain at AMC.

One in Ten celebrates 20



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Sweeney Todd,

Bus Stop open to

appreciative audiences

By PATRICK FOLLIARDSpecial to DC Agenda

Locally, its a good time for clas-sics by gay American theater greats.

At Signature Theatre in ShirlingtonVillage, audiences are getting acquaint-ed and reacquainted with StephenSondheims chilling musical master-piece Sweeney Todd, and at the OlneyTheatre Center, folks are doing thesame with playwright William Ingesless-gory-but-equally-memorable senti-mental favorite Bus Stop.

No shock that Signature choseSweeney Todd as part of its 20thanniversary season lineup. Wellknown for interpreting Sondheim,Signatures gay artistic director EricSchaeffer has twice staged the showin the past. Cant comment on thoseefforts didnt see them buttheres certainly lots to like about histhird stab at the tuneful tale of awronged barbers bloody revenge.

For starters, Sherri Edelen is

wonderful as Mrs. Lovett, the immi-nently practical sidekick to theshows throat-slitting title character.Whether singing about her meat pies(The Worst Pies in London and A

Little Priest) or her romantic designs

on the demon barber himself (By theSea), Edelens Mrs. Lovett is adelightfully nuanced blend of bare-knuckled capitalism and femininevulnerability very funny.

Esteemed local actor Edward Geroplays Sweeney Todd as a vengeance-bent zombie eager to settle a score withJudge Turpin (a coldly cruel Chris VanCleave), the corrupt letch who falselyimprisoned Sweeney, raped his beauti-ful young wife and stole their daughterJohanna. In lesser hands, Gerosautomaton approach might proveridiculous, but he pulls it off superbly.

Almost equally obsessed is thekindly sailor Anthony Hope (played bypretty actor Gregory Maheu) in his pur-suit of his imperiled love interest,Johanna (an aptly pale and yellow-haired Erin Driscoll). As the younglovers, both Maheu and Driscoll do jus-tice to Sondheims brilliant score, herepared down and remarkably performedby just four musicians. Another stand-out in the strong 19-person cast is tal-ented Sam Ludwig as the oblivious andfollicly challenged Tobias Ragg.

With bucketfuls of blood, body bagsand sundry other gruesome details,Schaeffer puts a pleasing dark spin on

what Sondheim already calls his blackoperetta. James Kronzer, whos gay,has imagined a scary foreboding con-struction site of a set realized withmulti-tiered scaffolding, corrugated iron

and dilapidated lumber. Sweeney Todddescends on to the stage in a clever lit-tle open elevator. He sends his lifelessvictims down an efficient shoot, andMrs. Lovett perfunctorily grinds bodyparts into minced meat using a stan-dard cement mixer.

Like many of Broadways best, bothSondheim and the late Inge came withbaggage: Sondheim endured a privi-leged but unhappy childhood soured byhis sexually predatory mother; and

Inge, a lifelong depressive who commit-ted suicide in 1973, struggled withaddiction and his sexuality. Their workssometimes resonate with hope but typ-ically offer little cushion for lifes losers.

With his 1955 Broadway hit BusStop, Inge continued his inimitableway of giving voice to Americas heart,particularly the Midwests unheraldedinhabitants. Olneys production, verycapably staged by Austin Pendleton, isfaithful to Inges intent.

Stranded overnight in a Kansasdiner during a March blizzard, a fewbus passengers, the driver, a couple ofwaitresses and the local sheriff learn afew things about life, love and one

another. The cast includes Boyd Harrisas Bo Decker, a raucous cowboy inhot pursuit of Jean Lichtys B-girl andself-styled chanteuse, Cherie. JamesSlaughter is excellent as the drunken

professor fond of underage girls. Andmost noteworthy is Judith Ingber whogives a beautifully understated, natu-ralistic performance as EmmaDuckworth, a sensitive Shakespeare-quoting teenage waitress.

Stephen Dobays set is a meticu-lously recreated diner circa mid-1950s so inviting it makes you want toamble onstage and order a cup of cof-fee and a grilled cheese. Outside therestaurants paned windows, a steady

snow falls throughout the nearly two-hour piece. Similarly, through theexpansive windows of Olneys lobby,patrons see drifts of still pristine whitesnow that have yet to melt.

theateragen

dcagenda.com - vol. 2, issue 10 - march 5, 2010

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